Parasympathetic Augmentation Via Respiratory Training for Patients With Systolic Heart Failure

To evaluate the effect of breathing training on the 6-minute walk test in a population of heart failure patients.

Enrollment/Baseline Visit During the enrollment visit, the participant will meet with the clinical research coordinator (CRC) to review any final questions regarding the study and the informed consent form will be signed. The enrollment visit must occur within one month of screening. Once the informed consent is signed, the following procedures will occur.

Randomization: Participants will be randomized using REDCap in a 2:1 blocking method into the intervention group (breathing therapy) or the control (standard of care).
N-terminal (NT)-pro hormone BNP (NT-proBNP): If an NT-proBNP was collected as standard of care within 3 months of enrollment, this can be used for study purposes and compared to the 6 month NT-proBNP.
New York Heart Association Class: If the NYHA class is completed as standard of care within 3 months of enrollment, this can be used for study proposes.
Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ)
Respiratory Rate
Peak Expiratory Flow
6-minute walk test
Orientation to the Heart Rate Variability 4 (HRV4) Training application: This will include downloading, creating an account for, and training the participant on the application.

The Intervention Group will also receiving training on the Stasis breathing therapy, which will include:

Being shown the Stasis Breathing Therapy On-Boarding video
Orientation to breathing application: Participants will be assisted in downloading and custom setting the Breathe application.

Zoom Within one month of the baseline visit, participants in the intervention group will have a one-on-one training session with the Stasis breathing coach. This will mark the beginning of their breathing therapy intervention.

3 Month Visit The 3 month visit will occur 3 months (± 14 days) from the one-on-one training session for participants in the intervention group . The participant will only meet with the CRC at the 3 month visit and all assessments will be completed by the CRC.

NYHA class
KCCQ
Respiratory Rate
Peak Expiratory Flow
6-minute walk test
Assess compliance from HRV4 Training application questions

Assess any possible adverse events

6 Month/Final Visit The 6 month visit will occur 6 months (± 14 days) from the one-on-one training session for participants in the intervention group. The participant will meet with the CRC at the 6 month visit, any assessments not completed as Standard of Care (SOC), will be completed by the CRC.

NT-proBNP: If an NT-proBNP is ordered as standard of care for the participant, this can be used for study purposes and compared to the baseline NT-proBNP.
NYHA class: If the NYHA class is completed as standard of care, this can be used for study purposes and compared to the baseline and 3 month values.
KCCQ
Respiratory Rate
Peak Expiratory Flow
6-minute walk test

Assess any possible adverse events

9 Month Structured Telephone Survey The 9 month structured telephone interview will take place for all participants who receive breathing training from Stasis. Participants will be called by a study team member who will facilitate a short (3-5 minute) telephone survey about adherence and changes in health outcomes as a result of participation in the trial. (See appendix 15.4). The study team member will record all answers into REDCap. Upon completion of the survey, participants will be closed out of the study. If a study team member is unable to get in contact with a participant after two attempts, their status will be marked as "closed to follow-up" and they won't be interviewed.